School Teacher's Decision To Make Yearly Salary Public Causes Outrage

Sep 12, 2022

Teachers teach the next generation. However, most teachers don’t make the amount of money they deserve for such a challenging and demanding job. Back in 2018, one teacher at Whispering Wind Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, showed the world just how little teachers make. Elisabeth Milich shared that she only made $36,621.25 a year. At the same time that she disclosed her salary, colleagues and other teachers were at the Arizona state capitol marching for a pay increase for teachers. 

Thankfully, Milich has a husband who can help support her and her teaching dream. His salary allows her to be able to help students in need as well as provide basic classroom supplies. After sharing her salary, Milich made national news. Her story grabbed the attention of someone very generous from New York state who wanted to help not only her and her students but other teachers at the Whispering Windy Academy as well. Ben Adam, a New York real estate owner and father of three, reached out to Milich on Facebook to see if he could help her and her classroom situation. Milich was shocked but touched by the kind gesture given from the other side of the country. 

Shortly after her school year started, she started to receive Amazon packages from a generous donor. Thinking it was just a one-time deal, she was grateful. However, Adam kept sending supplies into her second semester as well. Eventually, he asked if he could help other teachers at her school too. He said he cares for teachers since they are so underpaid. 

In an interview with Good Morning America in May 2019, Adam shared, “I’m sensitive to the people that get the short end of the stick and without complaining,” he said. “Teachers work very hard and don’t get much in return,” he added. 

He was so moved by what teachers do and what they need that he created a website called Classroomgiving.org where people can send Amazon classroom needs. “We are not asking for donations and we are not raising any funds,” he shared. “It takes you to Amazon and you enter the classroom address into your Amazon address book. You send whatever you can afford and you know that item has gotten exactly to the person you sent it to.”

Milich shared that she has been so shocked by his generosity. “I’m thinking, ‘This is crazy. This is a total stranger from New York,’” she said. “When school started, I started getting Amazon packages. I thought it was a one-time thing,” she added. She shared that this has been very helpful because it can be hard to pull money from your own pocket to provide sometimes. “It’s hard to make a decision to spend money on your home, your own kids or spend money on your school kids that desperately need the help,” Milich said. 

According to Classroomgiving.org, the website has helped over 2,700 classrooms. The website offers classrooms in all 50 states across the country. The website is a registered charity that also now accepts donations if you are interested in donating! 

Can you believe a stranger across the country wanted to be so helpful to teachers?! We are so blown away by his kindness! If you were inspired by this article— make sure to pass it on to others who will think the same!